• Log In
    • ASK ABQ – Submit a Question
    • Submit a Photo
    • Submit a Story
    • Community Photos
    • About Us
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Trending
    • Mom and son to open new restaurant in former Point Grill location
    • Photos: Northern Meadows decorates for Halloween
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Neighborhood Journal Neighborhood Journal
    Login
    • Rio Rancho North
      1. Enchanted Hills
      2. Loma Colorado
      3. Mariposa
      4. Northern Meadows
      5. Rivers Edge
      6. View All

      PHOTOS: Trick-or-treat in Loma Colorado

      November 1, 2023

      A colorful Memorial Day morning in Loma Colorado

      May 29, 2023

      More Loma Colorado crosswalks to be removed this month

      March 2, 2023

      Spring sports kick off at ERMS

      February 9, 2023

      Mom and son to open new restaurant in former Point Grill location

      November 15, 2023

      Mariposa to host community yard sale

      October 12, 2023

      Mariposa Community Center suggests non-traditional Halloween activities

      October 12, 2023

      RRFR Station 6 officially open for business in Mariposa

      October 12, 2023

      Photos: Northern Meadows decorates for Halloween

      November 1, 2023

      Northern Meadows residents meet privately to discuss POA

      August 8, 2023

      Residents organize meetings to press Northern Meadows POA

      July 19, 2023

      New pizza food truck sets up in North Hills

      July 17, 2023

      Mom and son to open new restaurant in former Point Grill location

      November 15, 2023

      Photos: Northern Meadows decorates for Halloween

      November 1, 2023

      PHOTOS: Trick-or-treat in Loma Colorado

      November 1, 2023

      Mariposa to host community yard sale

      October 12, 2023
    • ABQ NW

      McKinney-Vento Program in urgent need of food donations for APS students

      October 10, 2023

      Experienced Teacher’s Vision for APS Board District 2: Safety, Accountability, and Academic Excellence

      October 9, 2023

      Potential Threat at Alvarado Elementary School Resolved Safely by APS Police

      October 8, 2023

      Trial Begins for Richard Alan Ross in 2018 Albuquerque Double Murder Case

      October 7, 2023

      Community Celebrates Chaparral Elementary for Reducing Chronic Absenteeism

      September 30, 2023
    • ABQ NE

      APD Homicide Detectives Probing Fatal Shooting at Eubank Strip Mall

      October 10, 2023

      McKinney-Vento Program in urgent need of food donations for APS students

      October 10, 2023

      Candidate for APS school board in District 4 stresses the importance of public education

      October 10, 2023

      Adam Cazares Convicted of First-Degree Murder in 2019 Robbery and Shooting Case

      October 8, 2023

      Hate Graffiti Found at La Cueva High School Prompts Investigation and Cleanup

      October 2, 2023
    • ABQ SE

      McKinney-Vento Program in urgent need of food donations for APS students

      October 10, 2023

      Candidate for APS school board in District 4 stresses the importance of public education

      October 10, 2023

      Man Arrested for Involuntary Manslaughter After Shooting Intruder in Southeast Albuquerque

      October 7, 2023

      Albuquerque’s Tiny Home Village Boosts Occupancy, Offering Hope to Residents

      October 2, 2023

      Albuquerque’s Role in World’s Space-Observation Missions Expanding with German Investment

      September 30, 2023
    • ABQ SW

      McKinney-Vento Program in urgent need of food donations for APS students

      October 10, 2023

      Juvenile Suspects Arrested for Shooting Homeless Individuals with BB Guns in Downtown Albuquerque.

      October 9, 2023

      Multiple Guns Found at West Mesa High School Raise Concerns About Campus Safety

      October 7, 2023

      Candidate for APS School Board District 1 Focuses on Equity and Inclusion

      October 7, 2023

      Albuquerque Boxer José Luis Sánchez Sees Golden Boy Opportunity in Upcoming Fight

      October 7, 2023
    • Submit a Photo
    Neighborhood Journal Neighborhood Journal
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Home » Coaching helps AYSO parents give back to program
    Sports

    Coaching helps AYSO parents give back to program

    Scott AlbrightBy Scott AlbrightMarch 4, 2022Updated:March 6, 2022No Comments5 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    AYSO coaches Brett Ryder and Sarah Ramos discuss soccer during a practice session at Quintessence Park.
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    When asked how he feels about having his mom as his soccer coach, 9-year-old Bradley Ramos said, “It feels cool,” adding that he likes, “how we can go home and talk about what we’re gonna do the next practice.”

    Bradley’s mom, Sarah Ramos, coaches a group of 8- and 9-year-old boys for the American Youth Soccer Organization with her friend Brett Ryder, who also has a son on the team. Sarah and Ryder are neighbors who met several years ago, with their sons also being friends and having attended school together.

    When asked why he decided to be a coach for AYSO, Ryder explained that both his and Sarah’s kids have been playing in AYSO since they were young. “As the organization is made entirely of volunteers, volunteering to coach is away to give back to something that our family has benefited from for many years.”

    In the past Sarah had some “great coaching experiences and some unfortunate ones,” but ultimately decided to coach because she wants to “share the game that I love with my son and his peers. I hope to be a positive role model for these boys,” she explained.

    Sarah played soccer for AYSO when she was a kid and decided to coach for the organization over a club team or i9 because, “it’s a great way to learn the game in a fun and non-competitive environment. I think kids need to fall in love with the game and the ‘everyone plays’ philosophy of AYSO helps accomplish that goal.”

    Ryder added that, “Many of the other leagues are hyper-competitive and require enormous time commitments from the players and their families, which comes as a significant opportunity cost for all involved.” For Ryder, AYSO helps him to balance priorities and place pursuits like academics before athletics. “Keeping sports fun through a league like AYSO helps us to reinforce those priorities,” he said.

    Sarah and Ryder begin practices at 5:30 pm at Quintessence Park in northeast Albuquerque, where in early March the 6 pm sunset demands a shorter practice, but also a beautiful backdrop to the field the team practices at. Since many parents can’t get their kids to practice until after the regular 5 pm end of the workday, and there are few lights at city parks, a lot of teams are forced to have shorter practices prior to the daylight savings’ time change.

    20220303_172115
    20220303_175200
    20220303_172127
    20220303_172446
    20220303_175212
    20220301_180854
    20220303_180548
    20220303_180400

    None of the players on the Thunderbirds seem to mind the short practices though, and parents are happy their kids finally get to run around outside after being cooped up at home over the winter.

    Even though the Thunderbirds played in the fall, many parents are just now beginning to feel some relief from the pandemic that required them to quarantine and be stay-at-home parent/teachers while their kids got less outdoor time and fewer physical interactions with classmates and friends. During the fall season some players, parents, and siblings were wearing masks at games and sanitation stations were set up at fields where hands and equipment could be cleaned.

    Parents and coaches hope the spring season will be a little less stressful with kids having been back to in-person schooling since the beginning of the fall and the state-wide mask mandate lifted in February. For Sarah and Ryder there are plenty of other challenges they must address on the field though.

    “Nine-year-old boys – that is the challenge in and of itself,” Sarah said. “They really are a great group of boys, but our biggest challenge is to get them to listen.” To overcome this, Sarah and Ryder have the boys take a knee and set their soccer balls aside while they talk, which helps the players to stay focused.

    One of the challenges Ryder is working on is getting players to stay in their position. “Getting 9-year-olds to hold a position and play to its purpose is difficult, especially when their natural instinct is to just chase the ball everywhere in an attempt to score. To overcome this, we take great pains in stressing that playing solid defense is just as valuable as scoring a goal,” he said.

    When asked what the most rewarding part of being a coach is, Sarah responded, “Game Day is definitely the most rewarding part of being a coach! It is so fun to see these boys implement the skills that we work on in practice and take them to the field. Seeing the pride and excitement in their faces when they score a goal or do something exciting on the field makes it all worth it!”

    The reward for a Ryder is a little different. “For me, it’s been seeing the kids transition from being just a bunch of individuals on the field to actually starting to function on the field as a team. Of course the kids want to see their team score, but when it happens after a great defensive stop and good passing – that leaves everyone with a lasting smile,” he explained.

    Although neither Sarah nor Ryder live in the Quintessence neighborhood, they chose to practice there because, “It’s a quiet park with a great energy.” Sarah said she has been taking her kids to Quintessence Park since they were little and likes that the field is set back away from the street and siblings have a place to play while practice is in session.

    When asked how he would describe the park when the sun is going down and the clouds are filled with colors, Bradley said, “It’s pretty.”

    AYSO coaching Quintessence park soccer sports
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Scott Albright
    • Twitter

    Scott covers hyper-local news in the La Cueva High School area of Albuquerque. He previously worked for The Independent newspaper in Edgewood, NM and has published work in the Alibi, Sangre de Cristo Chronicle, Taos News, Big Island Chronicle, and Hawaii 24/7.

    Related Posts

    Mom and son to open new restaurant in former Point Grill location

    November 15, 2023

    Photos: Northern Meadows decorates for Halloween

    November 1, 2023

    PHOTOS: Trick-or-treat in Loma Colorado

    November 1, 2023
    Add A Comment

    Comments are closed.

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    About Us
    About Us

    The Neighborhood Journal aims to help residents be well informed about their neighborhood and feel more connected to their neighbors and community.

    Email Us: info@neighborhoodjournal.com
    Contact: +1-505-823-7200

    7777 Jefferson St. NE, Albuquerque

    PRIVACY POLICY

    Editor's Picks

    Mom and son to open new restaurant in former Point Grill location

    November 15, 2023

    Photos: Northern Meadows decorates for Halloween

    November 1, 2023

    PHOTOS: Trick-or-treat in Loma Colorado

    November 1, 2023
    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Submit a Photo
    • Submit a Story
    © 2025 Neighborhood Journal. Website by Half Pixel.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Sign In or Register

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below.

    Continue with Facebook
    Continue with Google
    Lost password?